November in La Mirada 3
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Last Wednesday we checked in at Pechanga, to take advantage of a free accommodation by the Hotel/Casino in Temecula. As soon as we checked in, we went to downtown Temecula to watch Lions for Lambs, a political film made by and starring Robert Redford. Its message was so against the Iraq war – not much entertainment value, however. I dropped off Donna back at Pechanga and I went and watched Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, a movie about two brothers who robbed their parents’ jewelry store – which I have to say was much better, full of suspense and really intense at some point. Great performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman, he never disappoints.
Today, Emy woke up early to drop off Adrienne at school for a Speech Camp of sorts. It’s actually some kind of competition and we were so proud because she was the only winner in her level among her team mates.
It’s also Emy’s birthday today and they celebrated by going to some dinner dance that they’ve previously bought tickets for.
Meanwhile Donna and I went to the 5 p.m. mass at St. John. After church we went to Arcel and Evelyn’s place in Walnut. Evelyn used to work with Donna in a convalescent hospital and she was one of the major sponsors in their wedding several years ago. Arcel is a Capampangan who hails from Tarlac.
They now have a 14 year old daughter, Nikki and a set of twin boys. Let me tell you about this girl - first of all she's so tall for her age and she was into ballet and piano. She even played a couple of classical pieces for us. She's a freshman right now but Arcel was saying she's in some kind of program where she's also attending some sort of 'international classes' in which she'll have two diplomas when she graduates, one from her regular high school and the other from the 'international school'. I thought that was pretty cool. I think she was at the top of her class when she graduated from junior high and she got some kind of Presidential citation for it.
Arcel has been inviting us for dinner and we can’t seem to find a day where we’re free and they’re available. They were going to go to Disneyland today for the twins’ birthday but Nikki’s foot was hurting so the Disney trip got postponed and the twins got a Wii game system instead.
So after church we drove on up to Walnut and dinner was ready when we arrived at almost 7. Evelyn’s sister Fe played the piano after dinner. When she finished I felt like doing Karaoke so Arcel started setting and hooking it up to their flat screen. But he was having such a hard time doing it and his brother-in-law even helped.
Finally he gave up and he just hooked it up on their small TV with the audio on to his entertainment sound system. We so got carried away that it was past 1 a.m. when we left! This is the first time I’ve sung since Spain and it felt good!
Arcel - I hope you don't mind me posting a couple of your pics here. Recognize which ones?
Sunday, November 18
Got up this morning after Nido knocked on our bedroom door announcing, “Breakfast!” At around 11 Donna and I left for our JASHS Class ’70 USA get-together at Roger and Bev’s house in Rancho Palos Verdes. I filled a couple of small coolers with soft drinks and water and Emy and Nido had us drop by at Juan Pollo for a couple of orders of chicken. I like theirs better than El Pollo Loco, by the way.
When we arrived, Ed, and Odette were already there. They picked up Mon David (with his trusted guitar!) from their place in Tarzana. Also in attendance were Rey and Josie, Merlyn and Bert. Merle (Gamboa) Malinao and son Sam and Becka (Medina) Buenaventura with her husband Jun arrived a bit later. We were hanging out at the back where the view was really gorgeous. Roger said a short prayer before lunch, specifically for classmate and friend Manny Hilario's father who passed away recently. He also said a prayer for his well being as well as Rey's.
It was a bit too cold for us however so after lunch, we all went inside to listen to Mon. He sang a beautiful Capampangan song about a father telling his son to look up at the moon when he misses him while he was gone overseas working. It literally brought tears to Ed’s eyes. I was having goose bumps thinking of my sons while he was singing. Granting Becka’s request, he also sang one of his winning songs at last year’s London Jazz Competition. Ed created a Capampangan poem about OFW’s and Mon provided a melody for it and he performed it as well.
Mon had to leave early because it was his mother-in-law's birthday. In fact, in the middle of one of his songs, he got a call on his cell from his daughter wondering where he was. Since he rode with Ed and Odette, they had to leave as well. Before the party was over I delivered a short speech thanking everyone for their support and Roger said a final prayer.
There was nobody here when we got home. I was parking when Emy and Nido pulled in. We called Stacy to greet her on her birthday. Stacy is my god daughter and she's Nestor and Glo's daughter. That's her on my left in the picture below when she visited California on a business trip a few months ago.
And after dinner, we had Emy’s really delicious Red Ribbon birthday cheese cake, brought by her brother Nelson. We really do have to do some serious workout soon! Otherwise Donna and I will need to get a set of new wardrobe each! A couple of my Levi's won't fit me anymore! Yikes!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMY!
Last Wednesday we checked in at Pechanga, to take advantage of a free accommodation by the Hotel/Casino in Temecula. As soon as we checked in, we went to downtown Temecula to watch Lions for Lambs, a political film made by and starring Robert Redford. Its message was so against the Iraq war – not much entertainment value, however. I dropped off Donna back at Pechanga and I went and watched Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, a movie about two brothers who robbed their parents’ jewelry store – which I have to say was much better, full of suspense and really intense at some point. Great performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman, he never disappoints.
Today, Emy woke up early to drop off Adrienne at school for a Speech Camp of sorts. It’s actually some kind of competition and we were so proud because she was the only winner in her level among her team mates.
It’s also Emy’s birthday today and they celebrated by going to some dinner dance that they’ve previously bought tickets for.
Meanwhile Donna and I went to the 5 p.m. mass at St. John. After church we went to Arcel and Evelyn’s place in Walnut. Evelyn used to work with Donna in a convalescent hospital and she was one of the major sponsors in their wedding several years ago. Arcel is a Capampangan who hails from Tarlac.
They now have a 14 year old daughter, Nikki and a set of twin boys. Let me tell you about this girl - first of all she's so tall for her age and she was into ballet and piano. She even played a couple of classical pieces for us. She's a freshman right now but Arcel was saying she's in some kind of program where she's also attending some sort of 'international classes' in which she'll have two diplomas when she graduates, one from her regular high school and the other from the 'international school'. I thought that was pretty cool. I think she was at the top of her class when she graduated from junior high and she got some kind of Presidential citation for it.
Arcel has been inviting us for dinner and we can’t seem to find a day where we’re free and they’re available. They were going to go to Disneyland today for the twins’ birthday but Nikki’s foot was hurting so the Disney trip got postponed and the twins got a Wii game system instead.
So after church we drove on up to Walnut and dinner was ready when we arrived at almost 7. Evelyn’s sister Fe played the piano after dinner. When she finished I felt like doing Karaoke so Arcel started setting and hooking it up to their flat screen. But he was having such a hard time doing it and his brother-in-law even helped.
Finally he gave up and he just hooked it up on their small TV with the audio on to his entertainment sound system. We so got carried away that it was past 1 a.m. when we left! This is the first time I’ve sung since Spain and it felt good!
Arcel - I hope you don't mind me posting a couple of your pics here. Recognize which ones?
Sunday, November 18
Got up this morning after Nido knocked on our bedroom door announcing, “Breakfast!” At around 11 Donna and I left for our JASHS Class ’70 USA get-together at Roger and Bev’s house in Rancho Palos Verdes. I filled a couple of small coolers with soft drinks and water and Emy and Nido had us drop by at Juan Pollo for a couple of orders of chicken. I like theirs better than El Pollo Loco, by the way.
When we arrived, Ed, and Odette were already there. They picked up Mon David (with his trusted guitar!) from their place in Tarzana. Also in attendance were Rey and Josie, Merlyn and Bert. Merle (Gamboa) Malinao and son Sam and Becka (Medina) Buenaventura with her husband Jun arrived a bit later. We were hanging out at the back where the view was really gorgeous. Roger said a short prayer before lunch, specifically for classmate and friend Manny Hilario's father who passed away recently. He also said a prayer for his well being as well as Rey's.
It was a bit too cold for us however so after lunch, we all went inside to listen to Mon. He sang a beautiful Capampangan song about a father telling his son to look up at the moon when he misses him while he was gone overseas working. It literally brought tears to Ed’s eyes. I was having goose bumps thinking of my sons while he was singing. Granting Becka’s request, he also sang one of his winning songs at last year’s London Jazz Competition. Ed created a Capampangan poem about OFW’s and Mon provided a melody for it and he performed it as well.
Mon had to leave early because it was his mother-in-law's birthday. In fact, in the middle of one of his songs, he got a call on his cell from his daughter wondering where he was. Since he rode with Ed and Odette, they had to leave as well. Before the party was over I delivered a short speech thanking everyone for their support and Roger said a final prayer.
There was nobody here when we got home. I was parking when Emy and Nido pulled in. We called Stacy to greet her on her birthday. Stacy is my god daughter and she's Nestor and Glo's daughter. That's her on my left in the picture below when she visited California on a business trip a few months ago.
And after dinner, we had Emy’s really delicious Red Ribbon birthday cheese cake, brought by her brother Nelson. We really do have to do some serious workout soon! Otherwise Donna and I will need to get a set of new wardrobe each! A couple of my Levi's won't fit me anymore! Yikes!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMY!
posted by reyjay @ 12:32 PM
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